ASIA: Attacks on journalists in Bangladesh and Pakistan denounced

date: June 17, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-17-09-2011 HRC section: Item 4: General Debate Speaker: Ms. Catherine Morris A Joint Oral Statement to the 17th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status, and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), a non-governmental organization in special consultative status ASIA: Attacks on journalists in Bangladesh and Pakistan denounced Thank you Mr. President, The ALRC and Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) are gravely concerned by attacks on journalists in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and call on the Human Rights Council to take action concerning the following situations. Dozens of journalists have been killed […]

NEPAL: Government urged to tackle caste-based discrimination, extra-judicial killings, torture and impunity comprehensively

date: June 7, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-17-07-2011 HRC section: Item 6: Nepal UPR Speaker: Mr. Michael Anthony An Oral Statement to the 17th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status NEPAL: Government urged to tackle caste-based discrimination, extra-judicial killings, torture and impunity comprehensively Thank you, During Nepal’s UPR, 24 states raised caste-based discrimination and Dalit rights. The ALRC therefore welcomes the recent endorsement by the Parliament of the ‘Untouchability Bill’, which criminalizes the practices of ‘untouchability’ in the public and private spheres, but urges the government to implement its provisions effectively. We also urge the establishment […]

ASIA: ALRC voices concerns regarding the freedom of expression in Thailand and South Korea, and the deadly repression of demonstrators in Sri Lanka

date: June 3, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-17-06-2011 HRC section: Item 3: General Debate Speaker: Mr. Michael Anthony An Oral Statement to the 17th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status ASIA: ALRC voices concerns regarding the freedom of expression in Thailand and South Korea, and the deadly repression of demonstrators in Sri Lanka Thank you, Recalling the Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial killings’ report, the ALRC is gravely concerned by the Sri Lankan police’s use of excessive force and live ammunition against demonstrators protesting against the Private Sector Pensions Bill on May 30th at Katunayake, in which […]

PAKISTAN: Extra-judicial killings ongoing with impunity, notably in Balochistan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2011 ALRC-CWS-17-04-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventeenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with SR on Extra-judicial killings A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status PAKISTAN: Extra-judicial killings ongoing with impunity, notably in Balochistan The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to bring to the attention of the Human Rights Council grave concerns related to the numerous allegations of extra-judicial killings that it has received in the last 12 months, notably from the province of Balochistan in Pakistan. Extra-judicial killings are typically the end-point of a string of human rights abuses that […]

NEPAL: Authorities failing to address extra-judicial killings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2011 ALRC-CWS-17-03-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventeenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with SR on Extra-judicial killings A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status NEPAL: Authorities failing to address extra-judicial killings The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), is gravely concerned by ongoing reports of extra-judicial killings in Nepal, and the authorities’ apparent unwillingness to put a halt to the system of impunity that accompanies them, including its unwillingness to cooperate effectively with the Office of the High Commissioner or the Human Rights Council, through its’ Universal Periodic Review mechanism, concerning this […]

PAKISTAN: Impunity for rape and other forms of violence against women must end

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2011 ALRC-CWS-17-02-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventeenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with SR on Extra-judicial killings A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status PAKISTAN: Impunity for rape and other forms of violence against women must end The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to highlight its continuing concerns about the widespread violation of women’s rights and cases of serious violence against women, including sexual violence, in Pakistan. The ALRC recalls that Pakistan acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 12 Mar […]

THAILAND: Threats to freedom of expression endanger human rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2011 ALRC-CWS-17-01-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventeenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with SR on Freedom of Expression A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status THAILAND: Threats to freedom of expression endanger human rights Since the 19 September 2006 coup, the Asian Legal Resource Center has observed the growing constriction of freedom of expression in Thailand. Locating and silencing dissident speech perceived to be critical of the institution of the monarchy has become a significant focus of the work of a range of Thai state agencies, including the judiciary, the Royal […]

MYANMAR: UPR outcome lacking substance and hope for effective implementation

date: June 8, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-17-08-2011 HRC section: Item 6: Myanmar UPR Speaker: Mr. Michael Anthony An Oral Statement to the 17th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status MYANMAR: UPR outcome lacking substance and hope for effective implementation Thank you, The ALRC is of the opinion that the Council need only look at the recommendations that Myanmar has not accepted to understand the challenges that the UPR faces in attempting to be relevant and effective concerning extreme human rights situations. Myanmar has rejected repeated recommendations to end impunity and to reform its legal system […]